The Supreme Court Matters, Chapter MCMIX

It was the Citizens United decision that turned the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce into the democracy-deforming monster that it has become. To wit:

The chamber's power has grown enormously in the last decade under Chief Executive Tom Donohue, who has emphasized political engagement and building the organization's membership and treasury. Because it is a nonprofit trade association, the chamber can accept unlimited contributions from corporations and then use them in independent political ads — giving it an advantage over the strictly limited donations to candidates. Like other trade associations, the chamber does not release details of the donations and it has resisted efforts to require donor disclosure.

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And never underestimate unreasoning paranoia:

"The business community has been under unprecedented threat," Rob Engstrom, part of a two-man team running the chamber's political operation, said in explaining why the trade group will break its previous political spending record — $50 million — to try to elect a more business-friendly Congress.

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